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After a season full of excellent defensive performances, this might have been the most impressive.

Not only because Florida State was facing an offense that ranked among the best in the country in several categories, but because the Seminoles were dealing with a slew of distractions.

Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops already had left for Kentucky. Defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot, who would soon be leaving with Stoops, was serving as interim defensive coordinator. And several of the Seminoles' top defensive players were debating whether they should come back for their senior seasons or ...